Conflicts

Internal
"She wanted her life shaped now, immediately-and the decision must be made by force- of love, of money, of unquestionable practicality- that was close at hand." pg (151)
The internal conflict in this story lies withing the heart and mind of Daisy Buchanan. As a young girl, Daisy fell in love with a man named Jay Gatsby. However, they were separated for several years. During this period of time Daisy was overcome by greed and impulse and decided to get married to Tom Buchanan rather than to wait for her lover, Jay. The conflict did not end there however. Years after Daisy had made her mind, she was reunited with Gatsby and presented the same dilemma which she faced many years ago. Throughout the novel, Daisy must find it in herself to determine the man she truly loves. This internal conflict is what drives the external conflict between Gatsby and Tom.

EExternal
"'You're crazy!' He exploded. 'I can't speak about what happened five years ago because I didn't know Daisy then- and I'll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all of the rest is a God damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.'" pg (131)

This scene takes place five years after Daisy makes her decision with regards to her own personal conflict. Daisy chooses to marry Tom. However, when she is reunited with T Gatsby she feels like she has been in love with him ever since the day they met. The inner conflict that Daisy made 5 years before stirred up an external conflict between Gatsby and Tom. Because of this fight, Daisy gets worked up on her way driving home and hits Myrtle. Because of Daisy's inner conflict there was an external conflict between Tom and Gatsby. Because of this external conflict, Myrtle and eventually Gatsby are killed.